Solliance

Netherlands: North Brabant

Overview

Mission/Objectives of the cluster organisation

The research organisation Solliance is a joint venture of ECN, TNO and imec and was  founded in 2010 to combine their forces in field of next generation thin film solar cells and their application.  Together with the academic partners TU Eindhoven, University of Hasselt, TU Delft and Forschungszentrum Jülich, Solliance participates in the global research into the solar technology of the future and its use.
Solliance has pilot research lines for OPV, Perovskite and CIGS-based thin film photo-voltaic (PV) solar foil and sheets. It has extensive facilities for their structural, performance and durability characterisation as well as for technology development for their use in PV solar modules and integration into buildings and infrastructure.. Industries and SMEs can become a member of the comprehensive Solliance network. The network includes universities, research centres and leading companies in fields such as solar energy, machine building, chemicals, construction and automotive and a membership allows to stay up to date with all the latest developments.

Industries and SMEs can take part in one of Solliances Shared Research Programmes (SRP). Together with others, you can participate in the development of promising technologies or processes in the field of thin film PV. The total R&D budget of a SRP is composed of the financial contributions of individual participants plus grants, which increases the possibilities and limits the risks. Participants in a programme obtain the right to use any knowledge generated.

Industries and SMEs can partner with Solliance in a specific project. We provide the expertise and infrastructure and we work together on the R&D. Projects are mainly focused on a new application of thin film PV or integrating it…. Yes. service.

Sectors
Technology

Brightlands Materials Center (BMC)

Netherlands: Limburg

Overview

Mission/Objectives of the cluster organisation

Welcome to our world of plastics!
Polymeric materials, or plastics, offer great opportunities for a large variety of new applications. For a sustainable world, a circular economy, and therefore the end-of-use of plastics based applications, is an important factor the Brightlands Materials center considers.

The world population will continue to grow in the 21st century to become nine billion by 2050. The need for new sustainable products and materials will grow with it as well. This asks for an efficient way of using and re-using materials. The Brightlands Materials Center will take up this responsibility and dedicate its research and development programs and other activities to a sustainable society.

The Brightlands Materials Center fuels the polymeric field with knowledge, talent and entrepreneurship by bringing universities, students, industry leaders and business professionals all together in shared research programs and the inspiring community of the Brightlands Materials Center.

The themes of… Additive Manufacturing

Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) printer

Stereolithography (SLA) printer

Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) printer

Various mechanical property testers (e.g. tensile tester, Notch impact tester)

Various polymer characterization testers (e.g. DSC, TGA, melt flow indexer)

 

Lightweight Automotive

Pilot compounder with side feeder

Pilot extruder with film blowing

Pilot injection molding machine

Injection over-moulding machine (for over-moulding of composites and electronics with polymer)

Tensile, compression, flexure, shear and torsion tester

 

Sustainable Buildings - Sustainable Energy

Pilot equipment for colloidal nanoparticle synthesis (atmospheric and hydrothermal)

Pilot equipment for coating of glass and other materials

Mini-compounder (3-5 gram polymer) with extrusion options (fiber, foil, injection mold)

Optical and electronical characterization (e.g. UV-VIS-NIR spectrophotometer)
. Development and testing of new polymers for additive manufacturing products.

Focus applications: automotive (spare) parts, biomedical scaffolds

 

Development and testing of light-weight automotive (long fiber) composite parts.

Focus area’s: overmoulding of composites and electronics, recycling, property prediction

 

Development and testing of new (nano)composite coatings.

Focus area’s: optical functional coatings and foils for buildings and automotive.

 
. Yes. service.

Sectors
Technology

DAMRC F.M.B.A.

Denmark: Central Jutland

Overview

Mission/Objectives of the cluster organisation

Mission: DAMRC – a research and development center for advanced machining technologies that develops and transforms the latest knowledge into practical solutions in close collaboration with universities for the benefit of Danish industrial companies' global competitiveness.

Vision: Be the preferred research center for the Nordic manufacturing industry that generates the most value and technology driven business in Denmark

DAMRC is driven by the industry with a high number of industry in the Board of Directors, Technical committee as well as Educational Committee

The business model is divided into

R&D activities
Education
Technology Transfer.

R&D activities include

The first (only) in the world to successfully generate a surface roughness below 1 micron (Ra) in thermal sprayed ZrO2 (TBC - diamond like surface) by milling (0,52 micron)
Driving down process time from 45 minutes to 29 seconds in hole making in Inconel 718
Only provider of VSR-treatment in the Nordic countries
… Mazak Variaxis i600 - Mazak Integrex i300 S - Mazak Quick Turn 25

DMG NLX2500/700 - DMG CMX 70U - DMG NHX 6300 High Torque - Pre-setter

Kasto Win A 4,6

Tesa Micro-Hite 3D - 4545

Steinbichler 3D Scanner

Wilson Hardness - Rockwell 574 digital

MAHR MarSurf PS1

Leica Absolute Tracker AT901

Kistler Multicomponent Dynamomemeter

Zoller Venturion 450

Metalmax TXF Tap Testing Equipment including Harmonizer

Vibratory Stress Relief (VSR) Model 8
. R&D

Scoping, partnering, project management and participating in international R&D projects focusing on machining technologies, additive manufacturing and handling of residual stresses by vibration technologies

Training

vocational - basic and excellent of apprentices for a number of vocational training schools
university supporting specialized training in machining related topics in a number of universities
specialized industrial training targeting training of highly specialized technical staff within machining technologies

Technology Transfer

Transfer of technology and consultancy in specific companies (primarily targeting SMEs) within technologies such as milling, drilling, turning, vibratory stress relief and additive manufacturing.

 
. Yes. service.

Sectors
Technology

Sirris

Belgium: Brussels Region

Overview

Mission/Objectives of the cluster organisation

Sirris is the collective centre for and by the technological industry. We offer Belgian companies three key assets to help them remain innovative: years of experience and comprehensive expertise in a wide range of industries; high-tech testing infrastructure spread across the country; and an extensive network of partners. This way we help large and smaller players in Belgian industry make the right technological choices and achieve sustainable economic growth.

Every year we help on 3,000 occasions in 1,500 industrial companies, 75% of which are SMEs.

Our portfolio contains nearly 5,000 customers and we have more than 2,500 member companies.

We have over 140 in-house experts spread over 8 different sites in Belgium.

Founded in 1949 by Agoria, the Federation of the technological industry.

Our wide-ranging network comprises universities, research centres, companies, associations and other institutions from all over Belgium and Europe. We exchange staff, knowledge and… The high-tech testing infrastructure spread across Belgium comprises equipment in following doimains:

Advanced Manufacturing:

Precision Manufacturing (high precision five axis milling machine (accuracy in micrometer range, LASEA femtosecond laser texturing,  3D metal printer),

Additive Manufacturing (AM-lab with an extensive number of AM technologies in metals, polymers and ceramics, pilot for AM integrated factory),

Microfabrication (milling, EDM, micro injection moulding),

Cobots and Flexible Automation, Digitization of Manufacturing,

Materials:

coatings (PVD/HiPIMS, wet chemical & robot supported, Aerosol Jet Printing),

composites (application lab),

casting (pilot foundry),

plastic & hybrid materials processing.

ICT & Data Analytics

Offshore Wind Infrastructure Application Lab (large climate chamber, wind turbine monitoring)

. Sirris, as a non-profit organisation, offers a broad range of services for SME (esp. SMEs). 

individual support at every step along the way, from the drawing board stage right through to prototype development and pilot tests for finished products.
access to high-tech testing infrastructure,
training,
business development, supporting the set-up of innovation projects,
development of roadmaps and technology watch service. 

Companies retain ownership of the results of any cooperation, such as innovative applications or solutions. The acquired know-how remains available at the collective centre for other companies to exploit. This way we also help other companies, and thus industry as a whole, to forge ahead.
. Yes. service.

Sectors
Technology

FTI-lab

Belgium: Flemish Region

Overview

Mission/Objectives of the cluster organisation

The FTI-lab is a leading provider of integrated product development services to the textile and clothing industry. We help companies and designers to develop and implement successful innovation projects. In order to do this the FTI-lab has extensive expertise in the field of (multi)functional and smart textile materials and related processing technologies, bio-chemistry based textile processing, digitisation and flexibilisation of product development and production processes, improving cultivation and processing and application aspects of EU-origin natural fibres such as hemp, garment manufacturing and thermophysiological and sensorial comfort. Furthermore the FTI-lab has unique competencies to think both creatively and deeply technical throughout the entire process.

We have 8 FTE researchers and +20 academics with various backgrounds: textile engineers, chemists, biochemists, biotechnologists and garment technologists. They gain their strength from the multidisciplinary and approach complex questions in… The FTI-lab has equipment for:

textile production: industrial weaving looms including jacquard, flat bed knitting machines, spinning equipment for the production of fancy yarns (hollow spindle), ...
textile finishing: (UV) coating, GRINP plasma system, Ahlbrandt corona, plasma torch, several digital printers for textile and paper (transfer printing), lab scale and semi industrial equipment for dyeing, printing  and finishing of yarns and fabrics, laser, ...
garment manufacturing: 3D body scanners, one ply automatic cutter, sewing equipment, ultrasonic welding, taping, plotter, 2D and 3D patterning software, ...
testing: Moisture managment Tester, Fabric Touch Tester, Martindale, Taber, QUV, tensile strength, Elmendorf, Hydrostatic head, air permeability, burst strength, colour fastnes to rubbing, washing, water, perspiration, ...

 
. The FTI-lab features a demonstration platform for digital processing and has extensive infrastructure for prototyping and testing. Additionally we offer on demand customized training. We therefor rely on our intensive expertise in digital printing, atmospheric plasma, (UV) coating, laser technology, 3D body scanning, fit & sizing, patterning and garment manufacturing.

The FTI-lab has an expert panel to evaluate fabric touch and feel and carries out in-depth interviews and questionaires in the context of user centered design.

 
. Yes. service.

Sectors
Technology

KIOS Research and Innovation Center of Excellence

Cyprus: Cyprus

Overview

Mission/Objectives of the cluster organisation

The KIOS Research and Innovation Center of Excellence (KIOS CoE) operates within the University of Cyprus. The Center was established in 2008 and was subsequently selected by the EU to advance into a Research and Innovation Center of Excellence in 2017. With collaboration with Imperial College London, KIOS has succeeded in securing funding in excess of 40 million euros, as part of the EU’s strategic Horizon 2020 program for “Spreading Excellence and Widening Participation – Teaming”.

The KIOS CoE is the largest research and innovation center in Cyprus on Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) with an emphasis on monitoring, control, management and security of critical infrastructures such as electric power systems, water distribution networks, telecommunication networks, and transportation systems. The vision of the Centre of Excellence is to develop excellent interdisciplinary research on a global scale, as well as to produce new knowledge and important tools that can be applied to solve real… The KIOS CoE has several dedicated laboratories investigating different key enabling technologies in monitoring, control and security of critical infrastructures using cutting-edge equipment for experimental evaluation, testing and prototyping. A short description of each laboratory along with the main equipment facilities is provided below.

The Embedded and Application-specific System on Chip Laboratory focuses towards the design, development, implementation and verification of low-power, high-performance and highly reliable systems on chip, suitable for embedded and mobile environments. Equipment includes:

Multi-GPU supercomputers used for machine learning and computer vision applications
State-of-the-art low-end and high-end FPGA boards for acceleration of compute intensive applications (computer vision, image processing, machine learning).
Multi-SOC FPGA-Based BeeCube Platform for large-scale hardware emulation
Embedded Computing Systems (Raspberry Pi, Gumstix Boards, Odroid Platforms)
…. The KIOS Innovation Hub of the KIOS CoE provides research and innovation services, via an Industrial Membership Program, suitable for operators of critical infrastructure systems and regulators, related commercial and governmental organizations and innovative SMEs. The Industrial Membership Program includes the following services:

Basic research and development on monitoring, control and security of intelligent systems and networks
Customized software/hardware solutions for Critical Infrastructure Systems (CISs)
Cloud/Mobile/Web-based services
Technology evaluation (pilots) / Training / Demonstration on Critical Infrastructure System Testbed Platforms (including power transmission systems, telecommunication networks, water distribution systems, transportation networks, cyber-security)
Proof-of-concept and prototype product development
Custom hardware design for acceleration of compute-intensive algorithms
Prototyping and Emulation via Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs)
Embedded…. Yes. service.

Sectors
Technology

Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology Research Center (CINN)

Spain: Asturias

Overview

Mission/Objectives of the cluster organisation

The Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology Research Center (CINN) was created in November 2007 by a joint initiative of 3 institutions, the Spanish National Research Council  (CSIC), the Principality of Asturias and the University of Oviedo.

The CINN pursues the creation, characterization and understanding of the behavior of new multifunctional materials on the nano, micro and macro scale, overcoming thereby the performance constraints that limit present-day materials and processes and the research is focused on five applications fields: Energy, Health, Homeland Security and Defense, Industry and Information and Communication Technologies.

The CINN is specialized in the preparation of raw materials, particularly ceramics. The starting materials can be both micrometer size and nanometer. The laboratory is equipped to perform:

Preparation stable ceramic slurries . Rheological characterization.
Attrition milling of ceramic powders
Atomization of ceramic slurries in aqueous medium
Atomization of… Spark Plasma Sintering

The CINN has two Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) facilities:

A laboratory equipment for samples with a size up to 80 mm in diameter
An industrial scale research equipment for the fabrication of blanks up to 400 mm in diameter. Additionally, this equipment allows to carry out sintering in a hybrid Hot-Press / SPS mode.

The CINN has also a nanotechnology unit fully equipped with:

Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM) with pseudo-atomic resolution on metallic surfaces.

Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM)

Magnetic Force Microscopy (MFM) for the observation of magnetic domains.

Optical Lithography

Electron Beam Lithography

Reactive Ion Etching and Ion Beam Etching

The CINN has a Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) microbiology laboratory fully equipped with the instrumental required to carry out a wide variety of standardized antimicrobial tests used in industry (type III biosafety cabinets, incubators, ovens ... ).
. The CINN offers the following services:

Fabrication of micro-and nanostructures using optical and electron beam lithography techniques
Characterization of micro-and nanostructures at the nanoscale using scanning microscopy techniques
Conditioning of raw materials, especially ceramics, to be used in forming and sintering processes (Preparation of Stable Ceramic Slurries, Attrition Milling, Spray-Drying, Freeze Drying)
Thermal treatments and sintering (Dilatometric Studies, Calcination Processes, Sintering)
Mechanical characterization (Hardness, Bending Strength, Compressive Strength, Toughness, Creep Resistance)

Electromagnetic Characterization. Since 2009, the CINN has used ellipsometry and related optical and magneto-optical techniques for the study of a wide variety of materials, both as thin films: metals, semiconductos, dielectrics and bulk materials: dielectrics, metals, composites, ferromagnetics.

Biocompatibility tests. The CINN offers tests for biological evaluation of…. Yes. service.

Sectors
Technology

CROSS-TEC

Italy: Emilia-Romagna

Overview

Mission/Objectives of the cluster organisation

CROSS-TEC laboratory of ENEA, situated in Bologna, in the northern Italy, is one of the TECNOPOLO ENEA laboratories dedicated to the industry and addresses five main areas corresponding to 5 units:

1) technologies for interoperability and supporting technologies and standards with a special focus on adoption in networks of enterprises (mainly manufacturing SMEs in textile-clothing, tiles, agrofood and mechanical industry) and smart cities (X-Lab unit).

2)  CAD/CAM technologies, with a special focus on CAD 3D modelling, rapid prototyping (additive manufacturing) and reverse engineering, with the aim of raising the technological level and competitiveness of enterprises both from the point of view of product development and production; the target is on  design based industry (fashion, accessories, jewelry) and historical heritages (museums, archives)  (PROTO-Lab unit)

3) methodologies and technologies for demonstrative projects for urban solutions, with the purpose to structure, experiment and… - Virtualised servers managing an Interoperability Test Bed system plus a number of tools thought to support standard adoption and inter-company interoperability

- 3D data acquisition systems for small highly precise scale (Tele mode with scanning resolution on X,Y,Z= 0.16, 016, 0.04 mm on area X,Y,Z = 111 x 84 x 40 mm) as well as large scale (buildings, archaeological areas,..) systems

- 3D printing systems with different technologies (3DP, MJM, DOD)

- high performance computing facility (HPC ENEAGRID/CRESCO, indicatively 150TFlops)

- polymeric membrane technology (PEM) components for hydrogen production (laboratory scale)

 
. All the units of CROSS-TEC carry on industrial research and technology transfer activities though:

collaborative projects on specific objectives within the frame of regional, national or European programs in partnership with other research institutions;
commissioned activities: industrial research and technology transfer projects carried out to fulfill special requirement by the customer

More specifically the performed activities are

training on methodologies, technologies or standard specification
coaching to the adoption of new technologies (in this case a project is managed jointly with the personnel of the commissioning company); for example feasibility studies for specific productive/design processes for 3D design technologies or 3D printing
3D prototypes
3D mechanical component tolerance checking
Interoperability testing of software solutions for specific use profiles for data exchange standard
software prototypes development
collaborative research projects
High…. Yes. service.

Sectors
Technology

Institute for Microelectronics and Microsystems (IMM) - Section of Bologna

Italy: Emilia-Romagna

Overview

Mission/Objectives of the cluster organisation

The Institute for Microelectronics and Microsystems (IMM) of the Italian National Research Council (CNR) is composed of 7 sections, located in Milan, Bologna, Rome, Napoli, Lecce and Catania. The Section of Bologna (IMM-BO) (http://www.bo.imm.cnr.it), whose staff comprises more than 50 people (researchers, technicians, administrative staff), is a multi-disciplinary research center that has been working on the study of materials and devices for microelectronics and MEMS for over 30 years. Thanks to the synergy between physics, engineers and chemistry IMM-BO provides a global and flexible approach to the development of innovative technologies for application specific areas.

The institute can embrace a wide area of knowledge, spanning from material characterization to the study of technological processes and from the design and fabrication of integrated devices to their integration in high TRL systems.

IMM Bologna is equipped with a wide range of facilities for design, manufacture, characterization of… Technological Facilities & Equipments:

Ion Implantation (medium and high energy; different species)
Rapid Thermal Process (RTP) (Lamp; Si and SiC)
Ultra-High Temperature Annealing (RF; Si and SiC)
Furnace Treatments (dry and wet oxidation, annealing and doping)
Low Pressure Chemical Vapour Deposition (LPCVD) (polySi, silicon nitride, TEOS and LTO)
Catalytic Chemical Vapour Deposition (CNT and graphene)
Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapour Deposition (SiC, a-Si, silicon nitride, doped microcrystalline Si)
Electron Beam Evaporation, Sputter Deposition
Etching Processes with Reactive Ion Etching (RIE) and Deep Reactive Ion Etching
Anisotropic Silicon Wet Etching
Optical and Deep-UV Lithography
Nano-Imprint UV-assisted
Electron Beam Lithography
Focused Ion Beam Etching and Lithography
Wafer Bonding (different types)
Wire Bonding (ultrasonic)
High Precision Dicing Saw. 

Structural Characterization:

Transmission Electron Microscopy (Tecnai F20 TEM/STEM, JEOL ARM200F…. Services and activities under contract are possible at IMM Bologna in the fields of Technological Processes, Structural Characterization and Sensors and Electrical Characterization.

Structural characterization by Electron Microscopy (SEM, TEM) and X-Rays scattering techniques
Design and Simulation
MEMS - Proof of concept fabrication
Customized MEMS sensors small-sale production
Packaging
Metrology and Electrical characterization
Optical characterization
Sensors and Microsystems Characterization
R&D support

The main facilities available and the related services, have been described above and are listed here: https://www.bo.imm.cnr.it/unit/resource-service.
. Yes. service.

Sectors
Technology

MediCon Ingegneria srl

Italy: Emilia-Romagna

Overview

Mission/Objectives of the cluster organisation

MediCon Ingegneria is a Research and Development center active in the field of embedded electronics,hardware and software.

Our aim is to perform research, design and consulting with the best technologies, respecting laws and standards, making use of state-of-the-art methodologies for research and development, risk management, and documentation.

Our main fields of application are: Medical Devices, Hydraulic mobile machinery, Industrial machinery. Since 20 years we have developed hundreds of innovation projects with industry and SMEs in particular, and allowed our customers to place on the market successful and reliable products. We have a strong experience in system safety and functional safety.

Our activity include entire Industrial Research projects, customer R&D support, complete research and design of devices, including industrialized prototyping and certification.

 

Emilia-Romagna High Technology Network

MediCon Ingegneria is part of Emilia-Romagna High… Oscilloscopes:

TEKTRONIX DRT TDS2014
TEKTRONIX THS720A
TEKTRONIX DPO3034
PicoScope 2205
PicoScope 5444B

Waveform generators:

TTI waveform generator TG315
TTI waveform generator TG5011
PicoScope 5444B

Multimeters:

FLUKE Digital multimeter 179
FLUKE Digital multimeter 287

Transducers:

FLUKE Temperature probe 80T
Delta Ohm Temperature Pressure transducer HD2304.0
Delta Ohm Pressure probe TP704-2BAI
Delta Ohm sicram module PP471
LTL Electronic centesimal gauge
Testo Termoigrometer 608-H1
Chauvin Arnoux Current Probe E3N

Debug Probes:

IAR Systems I-jet
Microchip ICD3
Microchip ICD4
Microcip REAL ICE
Segger J-Link
Freescale CodeWarrior USBTAP
Renesas E8a

Protocol Analyzer:

TRIDONIC PC interface for DALI systems 24138923
Kvaser CAN analyzer CG150
Picoscope 2205
PicoScope 5444B

Power Supplies:

RND Power supply 320-KD3005D
LYTRON Power supply NG-2500

Measuring instruments for leakage currents,…. Hardware design of electronic embedded boards and systems

Software design for microcontrollers and embedded microprocessor

Hardware, software and system Verification and Validation

Risk management according to standards applicable to medical devices, machinery and other field of application.

Certification of medical device, machinery, and other devices/directives

Training related to the above mentioned topics

Prototyping, form concept design up to industrial prototype for certification and production reference of electronic boards and entire devices or systems

Production of electronic boards and entire devices or systems, with quality management system
. Yes. service.

Sectors
Technology